Rangers lefty expected to begin throwing program in next 'several' days

NEW YORK -- Rangers left-hander Derek Holland, on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left shoulder, is expected to begin a throwing program in the next "several" days, but it could be two to three more weeks before he is ready to throw off a mound.

All indications are Holland won't be an option until well after the All-Star break.

Holland underwent an MRI on Friday to check his progress and the results showed he was "progressing," but not completely healed. He will be allowed to resume throwing at some point next week but won't go off a mound until he is cleared by another MRI in two to three weeks.

Once Holland gets on a mound, which won't be until June, it could be six to eight weeks before he goes through the normal Spring Training progression of building his strength and endurance back up. He hasn't been on a mound since pitching one inning in the home opener April 10.